Ex BB IB thinking about prepping for buyside opps looking for advice

Hey everyone, I spent 2+ years at a top BB Tech IB firm before making the leap to a startup last year that went belly up pretty quickly.

Even though I was at a top bank, I feel like my past modeling experience is subpar and won't get me offers currently (combination of mostly working on IPOs during time at bank + being out of the biz for a year). 

I'm thinking that I now want to make a move to the buyside (probably growth equity), and think I can spin my experience and still find a good role (my resume is strong enough that I can typically get a first round anywhere). Unfortunately I know that I will falter once I get to hardcore modeling tests. Wondering if anyone who made the jump from IB to the buyside felt similar and what they did to get the right modeling expertise under their belt. 

Should I buy and do like a WSO modeling course or something of that nature? Does anyone have good recs for that?

Thanks in advance. 

2 Comments
 

The Peak Frameworks is absolutely the way to go. Do these until you can do them in your sleep and the funds will pick you up like candy. I also wouldn't underestimate the importance of prepping the rest of the interview processes:

- knowing your deals very well, and talk about the ones that were more M&A related (even if they didn't close)

- Soft skills

 

Nobis ipsam et ea repellat. Occaecati ipsa commodi quos. Reprehenderit voluptas omnis illo dolorum quos dolor fugit expedita.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.2%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Bain Capital 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Private Equity

  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.2%
  • Ardian 98.9%
  • Blackstone Group 98.5%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.2%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (97) $363
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (104) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (234) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (95) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (271) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (37) $80
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (351) $61
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”